I feel an ocean of little arms coming up and hugging me, huggling my waist, and as I bend down to their level to embrace them, I realize how much of an impact I must have made the last time I saw these girls almost a month ago. This is only my second time seeing many of them, but as I look into their eyes and listen to their stories of what I missed in their lives over the past month, as I see their smiles and hear the excitement in their voices, my weariness of being on the road for a couple of hours disappear, and honestly I am humbled, ashamed at my apathy just minutes ago in the car as we were pulling into the driveway.

They ask if I'm going to teach today, and my heart sinks. I didn't prepare anything, but how could I look into those eyes and refuse? Before I walk out to meet with them again, my mom gives me advice. "Just teach them what you know. Share what you have with them." So I go outside, and as if my many years of living has been in preparation for this single evening, I begin.

I invite them to wave their hands in the air, drop it down low, then do a spin. It's part of the moves of this old Indonesian Sunday School song. We do a lot of singing and dancing, play a lot of games and they are curiously so intrigued with the story.

And as if according to schedule, it happens. We exit from watching the movie inside (had some not-kid-friendly-material). They asked why we couldn't see the movie, and I told them it was because the movie showed the characters abusing drugs and alcohol, things that little kids should not be exposed to. But for some reason, I ask them what their experiences were and their answer surprised me. Even though they don't know anything yet, something in them already acts as a moral compass inside of them. They said their parents stay up late drinking, smoking and playing poker, but for some reason they don't like it. Why would it matter to them, right? How would they know what's okay and not okay anyways? Our discussions also led to some of their confessions of having been offered and actually trying cigarettes (the whole time I was thinking, wait...you're only 7 and you've smoked before?!) So this intrigued me, but we talk...because of the subject content I felt like I was talking to at least a middle schooler, but it just made me realize...if I had kept them sheltered from the subject, that wouldn't have made things any better. But when we brought it to the light without attaching any stigma to it, their real selves opened up and we had an honest discussion about an unusual topic I wouldn't, under normal circumstances, even think to talk about with little kids. I guess little girls can grow up pretty fast these days. That's why we gotta love em. Next thing you know, they'll turn 8! Ah, then what? :)

Why is it so much easier to say than to do? To be told and do nothing than to make a change?

Tomorrow I'm leading worship for an immigrant congregation, helping out with one our church's mission locations.
I'm having a little trouble finding songs though because it will be in Indonesian and Spanish...and English. I really don't know how God is going to work tomorrow but I believe He will somehow. Last month there was about 15 people, and 5 of them were Spanish, 10 were Indonesian. And most of them didn't speak English.

I can speak English, my Indonesian is okay, but my Spanish needs some help. The last time I practiced Spanish was in 2001...and that was High School Spanish Level 4, lol. But even if I spoke all 3 fluently, leading worship in 3 languages is still a new challenge for me. Choosing songs for this is a whole new ballgame. Really, I am just going to leave this all to God. It's His thing, right?! Haha, okay God please go ahead and do Your thing now!